Disclaimer: I do not own anything except for the story. Steven Universe, Steven Universe the Movie, and Steven Universe Future are all owned by Cartoon Network, and Rebecca Sugar.

WARNING!: This story takes place during the events of Steven Universe Future, and after the movie, so there are obviously going to be spoilers. If you haven't watched any of those, I suggest that you do. Otherwise, read at your own discretion.

With that all said, let's get started.

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Ch 1: Feelings of Emptiness

Steven Universe. The human/gem hybrid, and son of Greg Universe and Rose Quartz/Pink Diamond. The boy who saved the galaxy from Homeworld, and even 'redeemed' the Diamonds. The hero who brought peace to Earth and Homeworld, and helped Gems learn how to live life on Earth at Little Homeschool.

And yet, in spite of all the great things he's done, he finds himself feeling...

Empty...

Right now, Steven was currently laying in his bed, staring at the ceiling as the sun begins to rise. He could barely sleep after everything that happened.

Yesterday, he and the Crystal Gems had fought against Cactus Steven, which he had brought to life with his spit. He thought he could talk to Cactus Steven about what he was feeling because he assumed the plant wouldn't tell the Gems. That ended up being a mistake, as his venting towards the plant caused it to copy him and go berserk. He managed to calm the sentient plant down, and apologized for not treating it better, but Cactus Steven left after he was calmed. Steven didn't want him to leave though, and tried to convince him to stay. Cactus Steven simply gave Steven one of the flowers that bloomed on his back, and then left.

The worst part about it for Steven, however, was that since the Gems heard all of the things Cactus Steven said, which were stuff that he vented about, now they were starting to get concerned. They shouldn't be concerned about him. Steven could handle it himself. Besides, they wouldn't be able to understand. They couldn't understand before.

Steven began to contemplate on what he should do now. He quit Little Homeschool, and he stopped going to his Garden, so what else could he do? No one else needed him anymore, and his friends were moving on to bigger and better things. Even Connie will be going to college in two years, so what was left?

'What else is left for me here...?', Steven thought to himself. He didn't have an answer for that. Amethyst tried asking him about what he wants for his future, but his answer back then was still to help people. However, no one needs his help now. Everyone is solving problems on their own, and even when he tried to help when it wasn't necessary, he ended up doing more harm than good. The question that he asked himself while talking to Cactus Steven suddenly pops back in his head.

(Flashback)

"Why do I need to be needed?"

(Back to present)

It was strange. He asked himself that out of frustration back then, but now that he thinks about it, he's not really sure why. Why does he need to be needed by others? Why is it more important to solve everyone else's problems, but not his own? Why can't he solve them on his own?

"Why...?"

He kept thinking on this as he got up from his bed. He tried so hard to think of an answer to these questions, but he just couldn't seem to find one. So he started thinking about how he could maybe find the answers he's looking for. There was only one thing that came to mind.

Leave Beach City.

It was the only answer he could think of right now. Since he couldn't seem to find any answers here, and he seemed to just be a burden anyway, leaving Beach City felt like the only option. Of course he's not gonna leave forever, but he just needs to be away for a while. Maybe then he'll be able to find the answers he's looking for.

He started to pack up a few of his things. Mostly his essentials. He didn't really plan on being gone for too long, but he didn't know what could happen.

"Steven."

The boy jumped in surprise as he heard his name being called out from behind. He turned around to see Garnet standing in front of the stairs.

"H-hey, Garnet. I was just, uh... packing up a few things. I'm planning on heading out for a while." He stammered.

"You're planning to leave Beach City.", Garnet said. Steven flinched when she said that. She must have used her future vision, and saw that he was about to leave. Probably means she came to stop him, but who knows?

"Look, I don't plan on being gone for long. I just... need to get away from everything right now.", Steven said.

"You say that, but you also sound like you don't know how long you'll be gone."

The boy frowned at that. She was somewhat right. He really didn't know how long he'd be gone, but did it matter? The whole reason he was leaving was so that he could find the answers he was looking for. Once that was done, he'd return home. She shouldn't be worried that he wouldn't come back, because he would.

"Does it matter? I'm gonna come back. I'm not abandoning you guys.", Steven said with a bit of irritation.

"I never said you were. The reason I'm here isn't to stop you, Steven. I just want to let you know..."

The Fusion walks towards Steven, and puts a hand on his shoulder.

"... If you ever need to talk to someone, we're here for you. You can even call us.", Garnet said softly. Steven was stunned. He had assumed that Garnet was here to try and stop him from leaving because of whatever it is she saw with her future vision, but he was wrong. All she did was tell him that he could talk to her or the other Gems if he wanted or needed to. While he was certainly relieved, it didn't make him feel better.

Of course Steven knew that he could talk to them, but why should he? They didn't need to be burdened by his problems. That was something for him to deal with alone. He could fix it himself... eventually.

"Yeah... thanks, Garnet. I should probably tell Pearl, Amethyst, and my dad that I'm leaving."

"Leave that to me. You go out and take your vacation."

"... It's not exactly a vacation, but okay."

After packing up everything he wanted to bring with him, he heads for the door. He's about to exit when Garnet calls out to him again.

"Oh, Steven! There's one more thing I forgot!"

"What?", He asked. Garnet puts her hands together to form a heart, and gives Steven a bright smile.

"I love you.", Garnet said.

Steven chuckled at the gesture.

"Heh heh, love you too."

After that, Steven exited the house. He grabbed his car keys out of his pocket while walking down the stairs, and unlocked his car. He entered his vehicle, and started it up. Before he began driving, however, he pulled out his phone, and went to his contacts. He kept searching until he found Connie Maheswaran. He decided to send her a text letting her know he was leaving. He would call her, but it was still kind of early, and she was probably at school right about now.

(Text Message)

Biscuit: Hey Connie. I'm texting to let you know that I'm leaving Beach City for a while. I won't be gone for too long. I just need a break from everything right now. I hope you understand.

(Back to the real world)

After sending the text, he began to drive away. He passed by the Big Donut, then Spacetries, then Fish Stew Pizza, all while other people and Gems were waving at him. He waved back, but he felt bad about doing it. They didn't know that he was temporarily leaving. What would happen if they found out? What about Lapis, Peridot, and Bismuth? Should he let them know? Should he stop for a bit to tell them? Should he even lea-

'No! No, Steven. You have to do this. Besides, you're coming back.', Steven thought to himself.

Ignoring his previous thoughts, he continued to drive off into the distance. Little by little, he was getting farther and farther away from the small town. He looked back for a moment, seeing the distance between him and his home town before continuing to drive off.

Seeing that he could no longer see his town from the distance, he sighed to himself. As Steven kept on driving, he began wondering where he should go now. Since he left Beach City now, he had to find somewhere else to go. Yeah, he could always go back, and since he wasn't that far from Beach City yet, he still had time to change his mind about this.

"No... I can't go back until I've found what I'm looking for, or until I figure out that I can't find it."

And so, our hero continues onward, determined to find the answers to the questions he has. He hoped he'd be able to find it.

Little did he know, his life was about to change even more than it already had.

A/N: This is my first ever Steven Universe fanfic, so it probably won't be that great. I've had this idea for a story in my head for a while, but didn't have the proper motivation to write it. But after watching a certain movie that came out this month, it's inspired me to start writing this story. Just another heads up, there will be music and songs in this fanfic, and none of them are owned by me. But yeah, hopefully you guys liked this first chapter, and want to read more. Next chapter will introduce someone new, so stay tuned. Anyways, peace.